Flint Sees 20 Water Main Breaks in One Day, Potholes Out of Hand

As Mid-Michigan roads have expanded and contracted throughout this intense winter, we’re seeing more and more potholes. Not to mention, a ton of water main breaks.

Michigan’s Freeze-Thaw Cycle Strikes Again

This is not necessarily unusual for Michigan, especially the roads, but that’s an awful lot of water main breaks for a state that is supposed to be prepared for the harsh abuse we take from Mother Nature this time of year.

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But nonetheless, here we go again. I saw a patch crew filling a massive hole on Dort Highway this morning, but there are so many more potholes in that particular stretch of the highway. Why don’t they just repave the whole thing? That would make the plows more effective, since they wouldn’t make existing potholes bigger, and it would save on the constant and repetitive repatching over and over again.

Why Flint Saw 20 Water Main Breaks in One Day

According to ABC12, this latest round of trouble can be traced back to that brutal cold snap we just came out of. Sustained sub-zero temperatures have apparently put a serious strain on Flint’s infrastructure.

The Flint Department of Public Works says crews dealt with 20 water main breaks in just 24 hours. Twenty in a single day? That kind of stress doesn’t just show up underground, it shows up on the surface too, in the form of fresh craters popping up across city streets.

City officials say crews are working extended hours to keep up, juggling emergency water repairs while also trying to stay ahead of pothole complaints. It’s not an easy balance when the freeze-thaw cycle keeps doing its thing.

How to Report Potholes and Water Main Breaks in Flint

If you spot a pothole, the city is asking residents to report it by calling 810-766-7343 or by visiting cityofflint.com/street-maintenance. Water main breaks can be reported to 810-766-7202.

Winter isn’t done with us yet. But we know spring is coming here in Michigan, and we can certainly feel it on the roads.

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